Dr. Dale's Talk at his daughter's wedding
Dr. Heather writes: My dad has his own humor. Underneath it there is brilliance and wisdom. Enjoy!
LUKE AND HEATHER PAPER
Heather and Luke asked me to say a few words trying to justify marriage-- and to try to come up with some good rationale for getting married in the first place. They base this request on the fact that I have been incessantly married to the same woman now for over 28 years, and have four, healthy, happy, decent children who are a joy to their parents and their community. So, here is my attempt.
First of all-- I thought-- what is good about marriage –and I thought--. Well, you don’t have to finish your own sentences anymore. You don’t have to wonder if you have done or said something stupid. You always have a designated driver. And I realized that before I was married I had to shave all the hair off of one of my legs --so at night in bed I felt like I was sleeping with a woman. And I always have someone to laugh at my jokes—not necessarily because they’re cleaver- but because Diane is cleaver.
Then I thought about it a little more and realized that of all human institutions that human beings have invented-- marriage is the most Holy—and indeed the fastest way to get to know God. Everyone who has been married for over a year knows it is the fastest way to gain spiritual enlightenment—Marriage makes prayer and meditation and long fasting, and lying on beds of nails, seem like games that children play when they are bored… ------ A person who leaves a marriage to go to an ashram in India for spiritual evolution is a total wimp--- in total denial that he is a total wimp. Living with another person day and night –down in the trenches---gives ample opportunity to practice every spiritual discipline known to man. If merely living together is not sufficient for spiritual growth --then have children and start to raise them. You will not need some guru sitting on a mountain to explain how to lose your ego. The activities of a householder parent are much more difficult than those of wimpy spiritual recluses. The recluse only has to eat when he pleases, associate or not with whom he pleases, go to bed when he pleases, think what he pleases and about what he pleases, and pray and meditate at his whim. If suddenly a small infant was put into his cave to be taken care of --his true character and level of spiritual evolution would soon become apparent.
SO--Marriage is not just simply only the glue that bonds two people together –-Marriage is the essense of the fabric that holds our entire society together in a coherent fashion.
For the human species to survive it must produce healthy offspring. These little critters must be nourished for nine months in the womb, and indefinitely afterwards. The young rascals must be nourished mentally and physically, and indeed psychically if they are to thrive and come from abundance. They are like little seeds that need to be protected and then planted deep in a rich soil, ---and when their little heads pop out of the ground- need to be guided up straight-- toward the sky. As their rambunctious bodies start to grow branches the branches need to be pruned to channel their vitality to grow upward-- and thus avoid early distortions and diseases. Their soil needs to have compost and frequently be given fresh nutrients--- and weeded periodically- so their energies are not spread too thin trying to survive. If the parents love each other, ( remember, they don’t always have to like each other,-but they always have to love each other-- and all of this action is done in accordance with nature’s laws of offspring, --the new human beings will be in the best image of God. Parents who understand and implement these simple truths will have children who remain a joy to them forever. A society who understands these simple truths will be a joyful society with little need of doctors and jails. Thus, marriage is the beginning of the commitment to enlighten the world and keep it enlightened. So, Heather and Luke --you are now responsible for enlightening the world and keeping it enlightened. It should be no problem as you already have wings on your feet and God tucked safely away in the deepest recess’s of your heart. Thank you for getting married.
A TOAST
I would like to propose a toast to Heather and Luke. First, some fatherly advice to Heather that Diane’s mother gave to her -- about honesty. She said, Honesty is extremely important ---which is why it should be avoided at all costs. -- And remember to always let your spouse be himself---and pretend he is someone else.
And Luke , as Heather is Diane’s daughter she will start choosing your clothes. If you complain Heather will tell you that dressing is a privilege—and you have lost it. Never tell her she is lousy in bed. She’ll go out and get a second opinion. Never argue with her when she is tired—or when she is rested. She is diplomatic like her mother—she will always let you have her way.----And during hard times when Heather says, “You know I was a fool when I married you”, you just reply, “Yes dear I know that, but I was in love at the time and didn’t notice it.
A good marriage is like a good soul—water cannot wet it, fire cannot burn it-wind cannot dry it and weapons cannot harm it. . A Marriage is not held together with chains. It is held tightly together with hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together over the years. ----- Marriage is only the first step of the journey that is made up of thousands of little steps.
Quote—Young love says I love you because I need you. Old mature love says I need you because I love you.
Rashes & skin disturbances in Babies & Kids
Rashes & skin disturbances in Babies
-what I have learned
Dr. Heather Hunt, DC
Yeast Rash: Diaper rash or skin rash that is fire-engine red and fails to respond to regular diaper cream treatments. Treat with clotrimazole - antifungal athletes’ foot cream **it should start clearing up within 2 days, if it is the correct remedy
RX: 1x application (covering the rash area) in morning & 1x @ night before bed
Thrush: yeast overgrowth in mouth. Best remedy I found is gentian violet. Use in baby’s mouth and on nipples as needed.
RX: Use Q-tip to apply 1x/day for 1 or 2 days be careful, it will stain everything!!-wear black and sleep on a dark towel.
Vitamin D3: 400 IU/day at least in baby, 4,000 iu for mom for a few weeks
Block Feed: feed baby on the same breast on demand for 3 hours then switch to the other breast for the next 3 hours. (This limits the sugary foremilk)
Recommended Diaper Creams: Weleda with Calendula and Zinc Oxide
Mom self care:
Probiotics or probiotic foods with saccharomyces boulardii (Strengtia by Apex Energetics)
Digestive enzymes, such as Zypan or Digestzymes with each meal (available at our office)
Up the fats in your diet - 8 tbsp of butter/day
When you or your baby develop a rash or skin disorder it is prudent to question-
Is it yeast, bacterial, a sensitivity to food, or an excessive immune response?
If Yeast: you should notice changes or improvement in the first 2-3 days of using an anti-fungal cream consider removing all sweets/refined carbohydrates from diet for a Candida type protocol.
If Bacterial: you should notice improvement with 2-3 days of using an antibacterial cream like Neosporin or Polysporin.
If “Allergic” due to sensitivity: Hydrocortisone cream (which suppresses your own immune system) will cause improvement. Try to identify the trigger and remove it. For instance, my third son breaks out into a cold sore type sore on his chin when he eats too many mandarins or vitamin C drinks.
This is not intended to replace any advice for a medical doctor. It is merely what I did with my own kids.
Castor Oil Packs- The Whys and Hows
Why a Castor Oil Pack?
Castor oil is known to penetrate deep into tissues and heal scars, loosen organs, penetrate tight muscles, improve circulation and lymphatic drainage and more. Edgar Cayce popularized their use. More info and instructional video HERE
How to Do a Castor Oil Pack
You’ll Need
· high-quality castor oil
· wool or cotton flannel– you can tear up an old flannel sheet, etc
· non stick type plastic wrap/cling wrap, or cut open a gallon size zip lock
· hot water bottle or heating pad. I like the UTK Infrared heating pads but they are expensive. You can buy a plug in one from the drug store for about $20.
· Quart size glass jar or bowl
NOTE: This can be messy, so put an old towel under your body in case the castor oil runs off your body
How to Use a Castor Oil Pack
1. Soak your flannel/wool/cloth in castor oil (I pour it on cloth over a bowl and soak it up). Make sure the cloth is big enough so you can fold it a few layers thick to put over area you want covered.
2. Wring out excess oil off cloth so it doesn’t drip
3. Cut a piece of cling wrap or ziplock bag to cover whole cloth and some of your skin around it
4. Place cloth over area you want to treat
5. Place plastic over the oil soaked cloth
6. Cover the plastic with the heating pad.
RELAX for 30 mins to an hour and a half.
You can store the cloth in a glass jar or ziplock in the fridge and use it again. Discard plastic wrap. Wipe up.
Dizziness & Vertigo- my differential diagnosis list
If you are feeling dizzy, like you or the world is spinning, or vertigo, here is the list I always consider:
BPPV: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. This occurs when the little crystals in your your ear become dislodged and cause dizziness related to changing positions that lasts a short time. More info HERE. Treatment is the Epley Maneuver.
Cervicogenic- this is the type of dizziness that is related to your cervical spine (neck). When something is out of balance in the neck, dizziness can result. Chiropractors are great for this.
Cranial- sometimes there are cranial restrictions that cause dizziness. Cranial sacral therapists are great to treat this type.
Hormonal- When the thyroid is low or someone has low blood sugar, dizziness can result. Blood tests are best to treat this. See thyroid info HERE
Eye Health- have you had your eyes checked in the past year?
Allergies- Try Claritin or Benadryl and see if change/alleviate dizziness.
Sinuses- Mucinex (over the counter at the drug store) will help drain sinuses. Some people do well with Neti pots too.
Photo credit: Samuel Dixon
Immune Support Protocol for the COVID-19 Vaccine
This is what I am personally doing to prepare for the COVID-19 Vaccine
Supplements:
Vitamins A, D, E and K mix (I take ADK Evail by Designs for Health)
Omega 3 Fish Oils 3,000mg a day
Vitamin C- 3,000mg a day
Methylated B Vitamins (no folic acid)- I take Designs for Health B Supreme 2/day
Buffered Magnesium Chelate (Designs for Health)- 300mg before bed
Zinc, 30mg a day (Zinc Supreme by Designs for Health)
Eat foods high in Anti-oxidants: they break down free-radicals and stop oxidation (think inflammation) in your tissues.You can take them as supplements and/or eat them in your diet: acai, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate, strongly colored foods. Also, eating garlic, onions, asparagus and other sulfur vegetables help make the body’s master antioxidant glutathione.
Eat Flavonoids: Citrus fruits, parsley, onions, berries, black tea, green and oolong tea, bananas, seabuckthorn, buckwheat and dark chocolate (70% or more cocoa content)
I will continue this protocol until at least 3 weeks after the second vaccine. Though I do this protocol in general to support my health.
Melatonin: is incredible for the immune system. It is the sleep hormone. I keep a spray bottle on my nightstand and will take 3mg to sleep if I have problems falling asleep or wake up and cannot fall back to sleep.
Day of Vaccine:
If I feel a shock to the system, I will take 1M of Aconitum Napellus, which is my favorite homeopathic remedy and it is for shock. The world for me can be very shocking, so this is always in my purse. I take 3 pellets being careful not to touch them.
If I feel inflamed I may take Cymbiotica’s Nexus product with CBD and Turmeric.
I will use an ice pack at the site of injection after the injection
I will not use any immune stimulating herbs or supplements (beta glucans or immune stimulating mushrooms). I don’t use these in general.
All these products are for sale at our office or online at www.heatherhuntdc.com
Best Car Insurance to cover Chiropractic Care
As a chiropractic office we strive to help people who have been in car accidents. What is the best car insurance in case you get into an accident? It is actually an option you can add to your existing policy called Medical Pay. Med pay is basically an account that you can spend on chiropractic or massage, etc and your insurance will pay as you go. Then you and/or your loved ones can get care ASAP. If you do not have med pay many doctors and chiropractors will not treat you as the care provider will receive no pay until you close your case (could be a year!)
Med pay is affordable (I pay $45 a year for $15,000 per person coverage for 3 vehicles). It covers you even if you are not at fault. It is basically amazing and we highly recommend you all call your insurance companies and add it!
And then, don't get in an accident! We pray for safe driving for all.
More info :
https://www.allstate.com/tr/car-insurance/medical-payments-coverage.aspx
What Is Medical Payments Coverage?
Published: November 2017
Medical payments coverage is part of an auto insurance policy. It may help pay your or your passengers' medical expenses if you're injured in a car accident, regardless of who caused the accident. This coverage is optional and not available in all states.
Medical payments coverage is sometimes called medical expense coverage, or just "med pay."
WHAT DOES MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVER?
If you're injured in a car accident, medical payments coverage may help pay the following expenses for you or your passengers:
Health insurance deductibles and co-pays
Doctor or hospital visits
Surgery, X-rays or prostheses
Ambulance and emergency medical technician fees
Professional nursing services
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion Protocol
Take concussions or suspected concussions seriously. If not taken care of they can have serious long term consequences. Here are suggestions but should not be used in place of medical evaluation/treatment.
Week 1: Goals: Increase blood volume to brain, reduce free radical activity (inflammation), repair cell membranes. No excitotoxins (fake sugars, aspartame/sorbitol, etc MSG) or alcohol. No/Limit sugar.
In the first 4-6 days do not stop inflammation, no Ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin, Turmeric, Fish oils, etc. Inflammation is part of the healing process and we don’t want any blood thinning.
Brain Rest- no physical activity, reading, computer, smart phone, etc. We don’t want your brain to work at all. Sleep/rest as much as possible. Book tapes OK. Avoid bright lights, LEDs, screens.
Reduce calories to fewer than 1,500 calories/day (do not do this with kids). Reduce carbohydrates/grains, no sugars.
Homeopathics: Aconitum napellus (1M) 3-5 pellets a day or up to 3x a day for shock and trauma. Take up to one week.
Arnica Montana 200c or 1M if bruising, neck strain, muscle soreness, etc. Take 3-5 pellets up to 3x/day for one week.
Supplements from Apex Energetics, available at our office, Adult doses (kids do ½ to ⅓ dose):
Day 1-3: Neuro O2 to increase blood flow (1 cap, two to three times a day with food).
Day 3: Add NueroPTX (1 cap two or three times a day)
Day 4: If OK with NeuroPTX, give Trizomal Glutathione (1 tsp 2x/day)
Day 5: Continue protocol
Day 6: Add essential fatty acids (Fish Oil, 2,000mg, like Brain DHA from Apex) to begin to re-build the cell membranes, also eat medium chain fatty acids (coconut oil/MCT oil).
Day 7: Continue protocol
Week 2: Goals: Save brain cells, retrieve and activate neural pathways. Still no screens, movies, phones, reading until end of second week. Sleep and rest as much as possible. Mild exercise like walking on flat surfaces should be OK.
Discontinue homeopathics
Monitor patient for balance, eye speed, and cognition. Symptoms of head pain, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, headache, and brain fog.
Day 8: Add Magnesium Glycinate (300-500mg/day, helps with sleep so before bed is a good time to dose it, but also add some in the morning), continue protocol of Neuro 02, Nuero PTX, Fish Oil,
Day 9/10/11/12/13: add in mild eye exercises for vestibular system (google it), continue until Day 14
Week 3: There should be no more headaches, eye pain, fatigue, blurry vision, disorientation, but if there is, continue resting and stay on protocol.
Can return to full activity but with no impact.
Stay on treatment plan for 6 weeks. No body contact sports for 4-6 weeks. If everything is fully recovered by 4-6 weeks patient is discharged to resume regular sports/activities.
If another head injury occurs within 3 months, the patient shall not play contact sports again for a year to ensure proper brain healing.
Concussions can take up to a year to heal. They can also injure your pituitary gland if there was whiplash, which can cause thyroid problems. If you have persistent fatigue or notice weight gain, hair loss, constipation, etc ask us or your doctor to order thyroid tests.
Also, persistent head symptoms may be a result of neck injury/imbalance or cranial bone imbalance. Call our office for a chiropractic or cranial appointment.
TIME: It is hard to gauge healing time exactly so the above recommendations are general. Please use below chart to monitor and error on the side of caution and rest until this checklist is clear.
To order from Apex Energetics specifically, Please go to Apex Online Store at https://www.myhcpstore.com/ and for HCP enter HeatherHuntDC
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN is really helpful too and we have a hyperbaric oxygen tank at Jacobson Chiropractic.
Adapted from Dr. Brandon Brock, DC. Dr. Brock is my colleague and mentor who specializes in Functional Neurology and traumatic brain injury.
The Adrenal/Blood Sugar Connection and How to Eat to Heal-- Hypoglycemia
The Adrenal/Blood Sugar Connection and How to Eat to Heal
Information on Hypoglycemia
Heather Hunt DC
Also there is a shortened version of this on my You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWnexiQ1JC0
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurs when our bodies cannot hold blood sugar stable and the blood sugar level dips too low resulting in undesirable symptoms like:
Feel shaky
Irritable
Cranky/“hangry”
Inability to think
Lack of concentration
Craving sweets/sugar
Dislike eating breakfast
Feel better after meals
Waking in the night
Crave caffeine
Wake too early in AM
Afternoon fatigue
Headache
Strenuous exercise difficult to do
Hard to stay balanced
Mood swings
Nausea
Many Causes of Hypoglycemia. It seems to run in families, be more common in women, and go with adrenal dysregulation issues. The understanding of the adrenal connection often goes missed, and I consider it to be essential to understanding and treating blood sugar issues. The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine (hormonal) system and are little glands that sit on the kidneys. Among other jobs, they secrete the hormones adrenaline and cortisol to respond to stress and can be considered the first responders. These glands are responsible for monitoring the environment (both internal in the body and external) to see if we are safe and balanced. They respond if there is any threatening or stressful situation and put the gears in motion for what we call “fight, flight or freeze” (aka survival mode). What has gotten aberrated in modern times is that stress can come in many forms. In most situations the response needed is not triggered by being attacked by a tiger, an encroaching famine, and other true survival needs. Now our main stress comes through blood sugar swings, alarming news headlines, relationship tension, the demands of work, the go go go nature of our world. Likewise, the more empathic and sensitive we are we can have stress from (an empathic response) seeing someone suffering, throwing plastic in the “recycling,” illness in others, animal suffering, trees being cut down, climate change, etc). And interestingly, the adrenals activate even to good stress like having a baby, getting married, going on vacation. It is all stress and triggers a survival mode of thinking and doing and a slip into the fight, flight or freeze response.
Adrenal Dysregulation. As you can imagine, in our times the adrenals get overtaxed from very young ages. Even with a perfect upbringing and family, if one is sensitive, there is still stress (nightmares, scary movies, the demands of school, perfectionism). If there is overt trauma well then game over, just know you will likely have an adrenal issue. There are many types of adrenal problems. Overly excited adrenals secrete too much cortisol and adrenaline and will result in feeling wired and also feelings of anxiety, panic, worry and dread. Exhausted adrenals will let you not get off the couch, no sex drive, just being really tired and not even being able to push yourself through exercise, etc without sugar and/or caffeine. What I think most common is what I call dysregulated adrenals. In this situation they are neither hyper or fatigued, but they are dysregulated (out of balance) and will secrete too much adrenaline/cortisol inappropriately giving you an anxious/wired/mind racing/feeling unsettled experience with an underlying deep fatigue.
NOTE: People who do not have robust adrenal health and/or have this tendency towards hypoglycemia will likely NOT DO WELL with Ketogenic Diets and Intermittent Fasting. Stabilize the adrenals first.
Adrenals and Blood Sugar. Adrenals monitor internal stress and what is out of balance in our bodies. We are focused here on blood sugar, and sure enough the adrenals monitor blood sugar levels to make sure we are well fed and safe. When the blood sugar dips low between eating, the adrenals signal the liver to secrete stored blood sugar (glycogen) to keep endogenous/internal blood sugar levels stable. But what if the adrenals are exhausted themselves? Then they do not respond well and the person stays hypoglycemic and needs to eat their way to more energy and grabs a carbohydrate (sugar, starch, grain, fruit) or caffeine. When the adrenals are overworked and on overdrive you actually can have increased fasting glucose (particularly in the morning when cortisol is naturally at its high) or a high hemoglobin A1C in blood work. You might also feel nauseous and not even hungry as you are living off your internal stores of glycogen and putting a big tax on your liver. When the adrenals are dysregulated they do not signal correctly so you are bouncing between highs and lows, especially in the night around 3am when you are lying awake, alert and your mind is looping and racing and your heart may even be pounding….
Healing your Adrenal Glands through blood sugar regulation. If our blood sugar roller coasters between highs and lows throughout the day we do not feel good, we feel that instability directly in our moods and bodies. Likewise, when our cortisol cycles through highs and lows we feel terrible (anxiety to fatigue and depression). We cannot feel good in our bodies and thus in our world when our blood sugar and adrenals are out of balance, especially since the adrenals specifically monitor our wellness and safely and inform us of it. So the answer to stabilizing our blood sugar is through healing our adrenals and the answer to healing our adrenals is stabilizing our blood sugar. Everything is connected! Luckily, we can stabilize our blood sugar and adrenals directly by how we eat. What is more challenging is changing the stress in our life and how we respond to it, which puts direct tax on our adrenals. I have many more articles on this sort of life work, for example read the Wisdom of Self CheckIn.
The Blood Sugar Roller Coaster: People with a tendency of hypoglycemia will crave sugar and other carbohydrates as a quick fix to raise low blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates are the foods that raise blood sugar levels (where pure fat and protein satiate and stabilize over the longer term). When simple carbohydrates (refined grains, sugars, fruits, etc) are eaten in the absence of protein and fat, the blood sugar spikes quickly (making a hypoglycemic person feel quickly better), but drops quickly as the hormone insulin works fast to get the blood sugar in the cells and decrease the circulating sugars. If insulin keeps spiking over the long term, the cells can develop a resistance to it and thus Metabolic Syndrome and/or Type 2 Diabetes can ensue. It is largely unknown that one can develop Type 2 Diabetes merely from being hypoglycemic.
A Simple Solution for Hypoglycemia is to add more protein and fat to meals/snacks so our blood sugar does not drop as quickly as on higher glycemic index foods. Proteins can delay low blood sugar for two to three hours and fats can satiate for up to four hours. Don’t bother eating low fat items, they have more carbs and they are more processed.
The Importance of Carbohydrates: Remember, you need carbohydrates to raise your blood sugar. Healthy carbs are not evil. Eating a meal of only protein and fat (nuts, meat, cheese, hard boiled eggs) will not raise your blood sugar and it will still stress your adrenals to raise it endogenously (by pulling stored sugar from the liver). Even a breakfast of eggs and spinach may not work if your adrenals are dysregulated, you may need a more robust carb. So while I do not suggest eating simple carbs and sugars, you do need carbs initially if you are hypoglycemic (think quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, beets, butternut squash, lentils, legumes, etc) to feel good. As you stabilize you will notice you can cut carbs back and that decrease in carbs will help stabilize blood sugar even more.
WHAT FOODS have PROTEINS, FATS and CARBS
Carbohydrates
Fruits
Vegetables
Complex (whole grains)
Lentils/legumes
Simple (refined grains)
Sugars
Fats
Butter
Olive Oil
Coconut oil
Avocados
Whole fat dairy
Meat
Protein
Whole Fat dairy
Meat
Nuts
Eggs
Beans/lentils
HOW TO EAT, A day in the life of a healthy hypoglycemic: You need to eat every 2-4 hours depending on how hypoglycemic you run (get too shaky between meals, your brain stops working, irritable, cranky, etc). As you stabilize, you can eat fewer snacks and stretch out times between eating without getting hypoglycemic. Eventually, you may move on to a more paleo or keto diet, but not until your adrenals are healthy.
Please try to get organic. You will put additional stress on your body if it has to process the pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics of conventional foods. Also, please steer clear of GMO (genetically modified foods). They have been modified into new protein structures that our body has not evolved to deal with and they have other disturbing gut effects.
Every meal/snack eat a protein, fat and carb.
PLEASE DON’T BE AFRAID OF HEALTHY FATS (organic butter, coconut oil, avocados)
6-8am- A good morning routine will set the stage for a stable blood sugar day. Breakfast with 15-25 grams of protein
10-11am- snack. Aim for 7-12grams of protein.
1pm- Lunch: Aim for another 15-25g protein.
3pm: snack
6:00-7pm- dinner protein/fat/carb… Aim for 20g of protein again!
If you are waking up in the middle of the night, it may be because of hunger. Do an experiment and eat a snack before bed. Yogurt or something (lots of fat/protein). See if it helps you sleep!
Breakfast ideas: A good morning routine will set the stage for a stable blood sugar day. Eat 15-25grams of protein within an hour of waking. This is a lot of protein! An egg has 6 grams. 2 slices of Jarlsberg cheese has 14 grams.
Collagen: My favorite cheat breakfast is Whole Body Collagen powder by Designs for Health (available at my online store). It is a tasteless powder that dissolves in liquid. I add it to my caffeinated beverage of choice with heavy cream and eat that for breakfast (11g protein). Collagen can be added to pureed soups, tea, smoothies, oatmeal and more making it a great protein booster.
Smoothie with ½ banana, handful of frozen blueberries, full fat yogurt or coconut milk plus a protein powder of choice: 2 scoops SP Complete and 2 scoops Whey Pro Complete (these are the powders we use for our cleanse). They are incredibly blood sugar stabilizing and like a multivitamin in a smoothie! 25 grams of protein
2 eggs scrambled with cheese, veges, piece of gluten free seed toast with butter
Snack Ideas: handful nuts with ½ fruit, brown rice cake and almond butter, smoothie with powders, yogurt, ½ apple with cheese, apples and peanut butter, carrots and hummus).
Lunch Ideas: leftovers are my favorite! Salad with chicken (but need dried fruit, quinoa, beets or a carb with this!)
Dinner Ideas:
Final Notes: Use an app like “My Fitness Pal” or Chronometer to see how much protein/fat/carbs you are eating.
For more information on how and what to eat, watch our Cleanse Orientation/Introduction video on our website www.heatherhuntdc.com
Salt: Many people have really switched to alternative salts like Himalayan. Please note that Himalayan salt does not have adequate dietary iodine. Iodine is needed for thyroid and hormonal health unless you have Hashimoto’s Thyroid disease. If there is no Hashimoto's Thyroid issues, I recommend cooking with Celtic or iodized sea salt and seasoning with Himalayan. Iodine is contraindicated for Hashimoto’s and can make it worse.
I really encourage people to eat GLUTEN FREE. Even if you do not have gastrointestinal reactions to gluten, you very well may still be having a skin or neurological reaction.
Babies with Flat Head, Tight Neck (Torticollis and Plagiocephaly)
Torticollis & Plagiocephaly
Dr.Heather Hunt DC
It is important to check babies after birth for any restrictions in their physical body caused by in-uterine constraint patterns or birth injury. Because they still so new and soft, any restrictions there usually release very easily and effectively. However, if a baby was in a position in mama’s tummy and did not move for a long time the restriction patterns can be more persistent and cause things like torticollis (where a baby favors looking one direction) and/or plagiocephaly (flattening on an area of the head). The most important thing for both issues is to be treated with chiropractic/cranial sacral and also TUMMY TIME! If a baby does not like tummy time, get them checked!
Torticollis
Torticollis, meaning “twisted neck” in Latin, can happen due to position in the womb or after a difficult childbirth. For many parents, Torticollis may not be spotted until babies begin to hold their heads up and it becomes obvious that the baby has a tilted head or is having a hard time turning their neck. With chiropractic adjustments, craniosacral therapy, simple exercises and tummy time this can be treated and can greatly improve or clear it altogether.
More about torticollis
Relatively common in newborns
Affects boys and girls equally
Can be present at birth or take up to 3 months to develop
What is torticollis?
Significant head preference to one side
Restriction in either active or passive range of motion of neck
The entire length of the body, especially the spine, is implicated
Causes
In utero position/constriction/shape of uterus
Pregnancy mobility/movement and function for both mom and baby
Abnormal positioning(such as being breech)
Use of forceps or vacuum devices during delivery
Embryologic or gestational insult or trauma
Birth trauma, can be emotional
Congenital/genetic issues
Reflux
Sleep positioning, nursing side preference
Decreased or lack of tummy time
Increased time in restrictive positioning devices (container lifestyle)
Signs of Torticollis:
Facial asymmetry
Breastfeeding/bottle feeding difficulty/issues
Significant head preference to one side
Difficulty or discomfort with head or neck movements
Crying in 1st two weeks can be a sign
Limited movements
Red lines in neck
Baby does NOT like tummy time
Plagiocephaly
Plagiocephaly, also called “flat head syndrome,” usually comes hand in hand with torticollis. Because babies are born with soft heads to allow for their amazing brain growth, their heads are easily molded. It is normal for a baby’s head to be a bit oddly shaped during the few days or weeks after birth. But if baby develops a lasting flat spot, either on one side or the back of the head, it could be plagiocephaly. This usually occurs when a baby sleeps in the same position most of the time or because of tightened neck muscles.
More about plagiocephaly
Very common
Very treatable
Develops when infant’s head is rapidly growing and meets some kind of resistance- either prenatally in the womb or after delivery because baby’s head is pressed against a flat resting surface
What is plagiocephaly?
Flat spot or misshapen on one side or back of baby’s head
Often there is some facial asymmetry
Opposite side sometimes protrudes out creating a “bulging” area
Causes
Increase in cases since the advent of SIDS recommendations for parents to keep babies on their backs
Baby’s sleep position
Container lifestyle (too much time in car seat, stroller, carrier, swing or bouncy seat)
Premature babies are more likely to have a flattened head
Being cramped in the womb
Torticollis, as they have difficulty turning to one side or the other (babies with plagiocephaly also usually develop torticollis as the muscle gets tight as it gets harder for them to turn their head and the neck becomes stiff from lack of use)
Signs
Usually easy to see, flat head on one side or on the back of head
Bald spots or less hair on one side if the head or back
Look at baby’s head from above to see if it is symmetric
Look at position of ears to see if one is pushed forward
Head may bulge on opposite side of flat side
If torticollis is the cause, the neck, jaw and face may be uneven as well
What can you do to help your baby with Torticollis or Plagiocephaly?
Chiropractic, Craniosacral, Physical therapy
Notice and take action to correct as babies head becomes less soft and pliable as they grow. The younger the your baby is the easier it will be to correct. Once they can roll they will move out of tummy time.
Take a photo of the spot from above and continue to do so each month while being treated to see what changes are occurring. These images are also helpful for to see effectiveness
Change your baby’s head position when they sleep to rounded side to help balance
Alternate positions in the crib or during co-sleeping
Hold your baby more often
Baby yoga and stretches (look online for baby yoga stretches or go to a class)
Pressure ON the bulging area
Pressure off the flat spot
Brain train- right arm to left leg, left arm to right leg (after 3 months of age)
Ankle circles (both directions)
For severe flat head syndrome, doctors may provide a custom-molded helmet or head band
Reposition all areas where baby plays, eats, sleeps and how they are held, nursed and changed
Most importantly! Tummy time! A half hour a day, can be broken up in small time segments. Be persistent, babies with torticollis/plagiocephaly do not usually like tummy time. You want your baby to rest with their forearms on the ground and lift their head and torso up into a cobra type pose.
Suggested treatments
TUMMY TIME! Half hour a day done in small segments so the baby does not get too fussy. It is ok to have some fussiness.
2. Car Seat Intervention
Observe baby in car seat
Make adjustment so baby is in good postural alignment
3. Sensory/Senses
Heat/neutral warmth – relaxes tissues, as warm as possible wet washcloth or in the bath, massage neck and shoulders.
Singing and movement activities –“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” song as you move baby in positions they tend to avoid. Do this only when they are in calm alert (watch my video on Babies, Sleep and Understanding the Sensory System on my website.)
Swinging – both linear and rotary, using a swing is great too.
Seated lifts, calms baby
Pull to sit/lower/lift activities
Make non startling sounds (soft bell) to bring babies eyes to follow movement to opposite side.
Use voice to encourage head turning. Ask older sibling to call baby to turn direction not usually comfortable to turn to.
Mood
Parents to stay grounded, centered, relaxed, breathing easily, and ready to listen and follow are extremely helpful.
Try to be as comfortable as possible with baby’s cries and respond unswerving compassion and continue to provide all the help that is available. Stay connected with you baby as treatments are applied.
Dr. Dale's Thanksgiving Letter--- remembering gratitude
Dr. Dale dressed up as Blues Brother with Diane dressed up as the Nun (family fav movie!)
Thanksgiving Letter from Dr. Dale:
(read to the bottom, great joke at end!)
I trust everyone had a most excellent Thanksgiving this year in spite of all our new challenges to observing and expressing gratitude. At Jacobson Chiropractic we are quite thankful that we are able to stay open and functional for our patients by utilizing simple procedures such as washing hands, wearing masks, and cleaning equipment. This year's stress levels for many folks remains quite high with all the new challenges to lifestyle, and an excellent goal for us to keep in mind is to get as grounded as possible and maintain that grounding. Giving serious attention to the blessings we have in this community, and acting toward them with appreciation is the best approach. While we can often find certain impediments to our happiness, and can often interpret many things to complain about, we must be careful not to be overwhelmed with details. The small black dot on the large sheet of brilliant white paper can take all of our attention. When we can be very quiet and observe what we actually have, rather than a few societal distractions, we can certainly observe that the scales of what we have are still heavily weighed on the side of our abilities and intentions toward happiness. (Now, on the other hand, if your car blew up with your insurance not paid, your house burned down, both your dogs died, your main squeeze ran off with your best friend, all your kids joined the Hari Khrishnas, you were kidnapped by an Amway salesman, and your name is Job, --there is some reason to not be in a generous state of gratitude, and to not go around spouting about all your blessings).
However, the great majority of us need to look more closely at any dark clouds to find the actual silver linings, and to then wait and finally observe the rainbows at the ends of the storms. Strive to get centered with your highest values in life, and always realize it is not really possible to hurt your perfect soul through the misperceptions and misinterpretations of your ego and silly self-esteem.
Take some time to get deep rest to get centered and grounded. Then the externals of your life don’t appear as daunting when you are filled with rest and gratitude. Take that energy and go out and take care of some unfinished business to improve your quality of life. Get in touch with the people you can’t talk to and talk to them. Get in touch with the people you interpret as hurting and abandoning you then allow yourself to forgive them. Forgive yourself for dealing with issues in a way that were not in your best spiritual interests, and actually hurt you in the long run. Dump any large bags of poop that you are carrying around in the shallow ruts of your mind, and then feel the fresh new wind under your wings without the same old smell.
Get grounded, get real, and figure out how to stay on the side of contentment and grace. Then, if you just can’t seem to get to that level because of chiropractic-relevant issues, come to our office immediately, and be treated by Dr. Heather for cranial therapy and functional medicine diagnosis, (maybe your skull function or thyroid gland is wacky), or visit Dr. Evan for extremity adjustments, (maybe your plantar fascitis or old shoulder tendonitis is acting up) and general wellness, or my youngest son-in-law Dr. Patrick for sports and general all around spine maladies. Or just come to gaze at Dr. Evan and Dr. Patrick as they are so young, and dashing and handsome. Or, if you are desperate to have a doctor pontificate about various controversial health topics while you are being treated, come to see the aging but not maturing Dr. Jacobson the old fart-windbag.
In the meantime, strive toward gratitude and appreciation rather than whining about theaters, and restaurants and other amusements being closed for this moment in history. Remember, the definition of “being alone” does not necessarily mean “being in bad company”. Come on in to see us when you need to get a bit of balancing because we are here for you and here to help you on your journey of life, no matter how difficult. We are all here with scrubbed faces, masks and washed hands held high.
So, from all our of our staff at Jacobson Chiropractic, have a valued holiday season, and get out there and make some sad people happy.
Dr. Dale-the-Whale
Parents of Young Children-- Be nice to yourself!
Today I treated two mamas who have young children. Ages 6 months and 3 years or so. One had to bring her kids to her hour long appointment with me because she has them full time while her husband works. As she started through her history she explained how she has not lost her baby weight, feels anxious and depressed, feels overwhelmed and feels like she is a bad mom for all of it. I am listening and watching her beautiful boys play contentedly in my room and noting their bright eyes and healthy skin. She further explains that they are trying to sell their house, trying to buy a new house, may be homeless in the interim between the two and still, she can't understand why she can't just get out to exercise. And then she explains how her son is waking her every two hours to nurse and she can't sleep train as they are moving so soon and also that when her back hurts she can't even get around to stretch. LIKE IT IS HER FAULT!!!
I so remember being here. I had three sons in five years. By the third many a day went by when I looked on and thought how this was not so fun anymore, that I should be feeling joy but all I felt was overwhelm, overstimulation and dread. And then my youngest son turned four and things got a lot more fun and easy. Then he turned five and I felt myself again. Finally. I could exercise, eat better, lose the baby weight (well, almost) and mostly I could feel the stoke return.
After taking the history of this awesome mama I just gave her a big hug. I said,"I think you are doing amazing. You have a lot of really hard things going on in your life. Plus COVID-19! You aren't even complaining. But please do not be hard on yourself. These are the hardest years, I promise it gets better! In 5 years you will see you birthed your best friends. And when you start to sleep and wean, etc you will get your energy back and be able to want to exercise, want to eat healthier, you will start to feel yourself again."
But what I realized is that I don't feel "myself" even still after having kids. Not my historical self. I am different after becoming a mom. A few years ago I realized a lot of what I was going through was really an identity crisis. I was not who I was before I had kids and I did not have a firm new identity because of the empathic expansion driven by motherhood. My heart grew exponentially becoming a mom and it took me time to fill the new territory of my heart with more than anxiety, dread, overwhelm and lots of love of course also. (People say agony and ecstasy share the same vibration. After becoming a mom, I get that!).
When my youngest son was five I decided I needed to feel settled in my new identity. I fortunately kept journals daily from when I was 12 years old till 25 years old. So I started reading the journals to remember who I was. I remembered these aspects of myself that I wanted to bring into my new identity and felt like I literally pulled the threads forward and established them into myself now. Then I took what I have learned in motherhood that I wanted to keep/strengthen into my identity and pulled those threads and I wound myself into a new nest of Self that is old and new and physically different than before but beautiful and WHOLE.
My favorite definition of healing is "establishment in Self." I want all you mamas out there to remember that you are in a huge identity shift and heart shift and being shift. You live in a society that does not support mothers and families and children. You have to work hard to stay balanced within that and none of this is your fault. You are doing the best you can and you are AMAZING! And none of us can be perfect all the time in our day to day moment to moment. But you are PERFECT underneath it all and your children chose you. And the grace is that your kids only know you, you are their normal. So even if you lose it once in awhile and are not your best most patient self, they will not know any different. And just stay open and transparent with them as they get older that you are trying your best and that you love them. But you also need to love yourself. Because you are worth it. And you are Amazing. And we are all on our own healing path as we establish ourselves into our most whole beautiful vital selves. Be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself as well (if not better!) then you care for your children, because mothers are the keystone of the family, and your happiness and wellness matters.
And remember, this too shall pass. I got to mountain bike for 12 miles yesterday with my three sons. Who would have guessed that in not too many years it would be so fun?
Clearing anesthesia from the body
A patient recently asked me how to best clear general anesthesia from the body. I asked my cousin who is an anesthesiologist what was most affected in the body when anesthesia was used. She said it “primarily affects the liver and central nervous system.”
Supplements Recommended by Designs for Health, available at my estore Designs for Health Orders e-store heatherhuntdc.ehealthpro.com. Coupon code for 10% off HUNT10
For Liver:
Co Q 10- called COQNOL™ 200, 1 cap a day
B Supreme- 2 caps in morning
B12 called Tricobalamin, 1 losange a day for one month
Zinc Supreme- 1 cap/day
Vitamin C- Liposomal Vitamin C 1 tsp/day
For Nervous System:
Omega 3 fish oils about 2,000mg a day.
Vitamin D, 5000 iu/day (ideally get a blood test, we can test it for $45)
Buffered Magnesium Chelate (glycinate form) 300mg/day, 2-3 caps (take before bed, it helps with sleep and helps bowel function)
Homeopathy: Remember, do not touch pellets! Drop them directly into your mouth. Phosphorus 200c (3 pellets) once a day for three days OR Phosphorus 30c twice daily at 3 pellets for three days.
If there is shock or trauma from surgery/accident, etc use Aconitum Napellus 1M. 3 pellets a day for 7 days. This is my favorite remedy as just living in the world is shocking! Great for anxiety, post-birth, for kids, etc. But only use short term (no more than 7 days in a row). Can take as needed afterwards for a day. Great to carry in wallet for emergencies.
And obviously, Arnica Montana 200c, 3 pellets three times a day for 3 days. This if for bruising, muscle and tissue pain, wounds.
Drink lots of water and stay hydrated! I recommend electrolytes. Either in Taste Nirvana Coconut Water or make your own. 1 quart filtered water, ¼ tsp Celtic Sea Salt, ½ lemon (or splash of Organic Just Lemon or Just Lime juice) and optional is to add 1-2 TBS maple syrup.
Best Liver Detox foods- Eat Organic to get pesticides and hormones out of foods
(quoted from https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/foods-that-heal-the-liver)
Apples provide an active living water that hydrates the liver and supports the liver’s ability to hydrate your body. Apples also starve bacteria, yeast and mold out of the intestinal tract and liver. In doing so they keep sludge out of the gallbladder. Apples can also dissolve gallstones. Eat one to three apples a day (or more) if you can.
Artichokes contain phytochemical compounds that inhibit the development of tumors and cysts in the liver. Artichokes also contain many chemical functions that help the liver neutralize toxins before they get to the brain or heart. They help the liver screen and filter your blood.
Asparagus is high in flavonoids and powerful anti-inflammatory compounds—they’re like a natural aspirin. They also expel and dislodge fat cells and other poisons. Asparagus cleanses, detoxifies and soothes the liver.
Bananas are antibacterial, anti-yeast, antifungal foods. The fructose in bananas provides a quick fuel for the liver—it’s one of the organ’s favorite food sources. Bananas also sooth the lining of the intestinal tract.
Berries are a rich medicine chest for the liver. Your liver contains a type of cell known as Kupffer cells, and wild blueberries especially contain the kinds of antioxidants those kuppfer cells need. Raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are all powerful healing foods for your liver.
Brussels sprouts are an ultimate liver cleansing food. You can eat them raw, steam them or even juice them. Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables have a special sulfur that expels poisons and pathogens from your liver.
Celery contains undiscovered subgroups of sodium that I call cluster salts. These cluster salts protect liver cell membranes. They strip the cells of viruses down and bind onto free floating poisons. Drinking sixteen ounces of pure celery juice with nothing added on an empty stomach every morning is a powerful way to cleanse your liver.
Cilantro binds onto heavy metals so you can safely eliminate them from your liver and body. Cilantro also contains phytochemical compounds that cling to other troublemakers, such as neurotoxins and dermatoxins, which end up in our livers. Cilantro is another liver cleanser.
Cranberries do many jobs for the liver. They cleanse the deep parts of the liver. The harsh fruit acid in cranberries kills pathogens. They also have a tremendous amount of vitamin C that steps the oxidation of cells.
Cucumbers are an ally for the liver. They provide a hydrating liver water just like apples. Cucumbers also cleanse the liver.
Dandelion greens trigger a squeezing action in the liver that helps it release toxins. .
Lemons and limes improve hydrochloric acid (HCL) production in the stomach. They also cleanse fatty livers and help dissolve gallstones.
Melons are an incredibly powerful cleansing food that also have the ability to hydrate the liver. It’s ideal to have melons early in the day and not after eating something heavy.
Peaches remove old deep-seated poisons, debris and putrefied food in your small intestinal tract, which helps your liver get better.
Oranges and tangerines provide a wealth of calcium and vitamin C that the liver can use since it’s combined with the glucose in the fruit.
Raw honey contains a combination of the sugars that the liver needs along with the minerals, vitamins and nutrients that restore the liver.
Tomatoes harness critical phytochemicals, micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that support the liver. The fruit acid in a tomato also helps the gallbladder eliminate some of the sludge that can sit in the bottom of the gallbladder. They also dissolve gallstones.
Drink Tea! Traditional Medicinals Organic Burdock with Nettle Herbal Leaf Tea, Dandelion, Hibiscus, Yogi Licorice Tea
I would not recommend milk thistle or something like that as herbs are contraindicated with many medications and do not work the same in each body.
Neck and Shoulder Pain Stretching Video
Here is a video to help with neck and shoulder pain
Help your Body cope with Wildfire Smoke
The West is on fire and my heart goes out to all those who have suffered loss and hardship. What a year! After weeks of smoke we are really feeling the negative effects in our bodies. While we can pray for rain and miracles on the grand scale, on the small scale of our bodies we can help support health in spite of this smoke.
Personally, we are doing a mix of staying indoors, natural supplements, plenty of fluids and more. Also, we will offer a special sale on quality natural supplements to support you through these times. Here we go!
Drink LOTS of water. Water flushes particulate matter through your system and helps clear your body. Our fav is to make an electrolyte mix with a one quart jar of purified water, fresh lemon or organic “Just Lemon” (or lime) juice, 1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt and maple syrup (optional). This drink will help support the kidneys, and the lemon helps the liver and gall bladder.
Drink Herbal Teas. Slippery Elm, marshmallow root, Throat Coat, Breathe Deep tea and more. If too warm outside to want hot tea, make it iced tea.
Aromatherapy diffuser with eucalyptus, thyme, lavender, etc.
Breathe Steam with essential oils. Pour boiling water in a large bowl and add in a few drops of chosen essential oil (see list above) and put your head over it with a towel over your head. Breathe carefully but deeply.
Nasal Saline spray. Soothes irritated sinuses and the insides of your nose.
Chest Rub- I have been putting an herbal chest rub on my chest, neck and even under my nose to get the herbs/oils into my skin. It helps clear inflamed and congested throat/chest.
HEPA air purifier- lots to choose from, really help indoor air quality!
EAT: Garlic, ginger, antioxidant rich foods (blueberries, pomegranate, elderberry, blackberries, kidney beans) and vitamin C rich foods (broccoli, dark leafy greens, kiwis, tomatoes, citrus, bell peppers).
Natural Supplements on Sale and in stock at Jacobson Chiropractic
Broncafect Phytosynergist herbal liquid by MediHerb. This is an incredible tonic for throat and lung reactions to smoke. Because of its high quality, it is expensive. We are running a special beyond the 20%. Call for details. Mix with water or juice and enjoy! Great for COVID-19 too. More info here
Zinc Supreme by Designs for Health. A mix of zinc and synergistic ingredients for zinc absorption to support the immune system and more. Zinc has become one of our favorite supplements thanks to COVID-19. It is also excellent for hormone health, stomach health and more. 20% off. More info here
Trizomal Glutathione Apex Energetics. The body's master antioxidant. Meaning, it neutralizes toxic free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Amazing product. 20% off More info here
Vitamin ADEK Emulsion- Biotics Research has made a highly absorbable form of these important fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin D is responsible for conducting the symphony of the immune system. Vitamin A helps support proper barrier integrity of the lungs, brain, gut, and more. 20% off.
Omega 3 Fish Oils and Algae Omegas- Absolutely necessary for immune health. Our body does not make these essential fatty acids, we need to consume them. Great for anti-inflammatory effects in gut and lungs. 20% off
Herbal Throat Spray Phytosynergist by Mediherb. Our fav if you are getting a sore throat. Helps Stop it in its tracks. 20% Off More info here
Elderberry and Vitamin C- we have a few to choose brands from which to choose.
Thymex by Standard Process. A product to support the thymus, which is the master gland of the immune system. More info here
We have an online store that is evolving! More to come but for now at https://heatherhuntdc.com/shop or come on into the office. You can also call in an order at 530-265-2220 and we can have it ready for curbside pick up.
Good luck and stay safe. Deep gratitude for all our amazing firefighters and their supportive families. We wish you all the best possible health in these times.
Dr. Heather Hunt, DC
Answers to problems in pregnancy, birth and postpartum- Maternity Support Protocol
My intention is to best support YOU! During my three pregnancies and more than a decade in maternity chiropractic practice, these suggestions have emerged to help with your pregnancy, birth and postpartum optimal wellness. Along with these recommendations, emphasis on self care is always important. Proper rest, nutrition, and physical care such as chiropractic, craniosacral therapy and massage are encouraged. More on my history/training Here.
This paper is not intended to replace professional advice and it is always advised to consult with a licensed professional before taking new remedies/ supplements.
All supplements are sold at our office and online at www.heatherhuntdc.com
Support for Pregnancy
My video on How to eat! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWnexiQ1JC0
My video on LOW BACK and pelvic pain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfDtqpO70_0
Adrenal/Stress/Fatigue: (if you feel abnormally tired, are not sleeping well or depending on sugar/caffeine to get your energy up to make it through the day)
Cytocyme AD by Biotics, 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, can build up to 2 in AM, 2 with lunch
Drenamin- by Standard Process 2-4 a day (feeds the adrenal glands)
Daily Fundamentals Adrenal Health- Standard Process, one package a day
Anxiety/Stress Calming Support: Adrena-Calm from Apex Energetics. A cream that literally lowers your adrenaline/cortisol levels. ½ to 2 pumps, apply onto soft skin (underarms, thighs, belly). Can use in middle of night if wake up with mind racing. Safe for kids and babies at reduced doses.
RelaxMax- by Zymogen. An easy powder to mix for a calming drink. Safe for kids at reduced doses.
Zen- Allergy Research 2 caps when feel stressed
Acid reflux/ heartburn: Gastrex by Standard Process 3 caps on empty stomach 2x a day. Can also take with food.
Zypan by Standard Process, 1-2 before each meal if it does not increase acid. Use only under direction of a health care practitioner.
Blood Sugar Support and Gestational Diabetes SP Complete protein powder mix from Standard Process (2 scoops a day, in a smoothie or milk substitute product is best)
Collagen Powder- 11g of protein in a tasteless powder that dissolves in tea/coffee/water. My fav!
Diaplex or Cataplex GTF (glucose tolerance factor)- 2-4 caps/day
Adrenal support is necessary, too, please refer to adrenal section of hand out
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/pain in wrists/hands. B Supreme by Designs for Health. Up the Omega 3s (2,000-3,000 mg a day, but discontinue one week before the due date as it can thin blood and thus increase bleeding). Add adrenal support too.
Constipation: 400-600 mg of Magnesium Citrate mixed with 1 TBS Calcium Lactate at night before bed as needed. I digested this combo much better than Calm Cal/Mg due to better bioavailability and I am not a fan of cheap calcium forms, only whole food calcium like from Standard Process.
Gall Bladder (right shoulder blade pain, pain under right/midline ribs): pain under your right rib cage or under your right shoulder blade, especially after eating fried foods or other fatty foods. Pain can also travel from right shoulder blade to right neck and create a right sided headache. Usually due to thickened bile from increased hormone levels. Gall bladder can also manifest as upper GI pain and sharp cramp pains and nausea. Please tell your doctor/birth provider if you have this.
AF Betafood, Zypan, and Cholacol by Standard Process, 2 of each with each meal, 3x a day at least
Drink water with Lemon to start the day and any other time (through a straw to protect enamel on teeth). Eat bitters (arugula, dandelion leaves, grapefruit, drizzle lemon over food, broccoli rabe, etc) with each meal. Eat beets, drink fresh beet juice (start with small amounts and increase slowly).
Avoid/test aggravating foods: Fried foods, pork, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, coconut products
If try all of this and gall bladder symptoms persist: Add Standard Process Choline and Inositol (2 caps with each meal of each)
Headaches/Migraines: Riboflavin (B2), 400mg at night and B Supreme in morning. Magnesium Glycinate (up to 600mg/day, broken into 2 doses). Omega 3s (Cod Liver Oil). Hot bath with Epsom salt, cold washcloth on forehead. Avoid caffeine. Consider Adrenal support.
Iron Deficiency Anemia Fatigue (Low Iron Levels and increased tiredness): Fatigue, pale skin, foggy brain. We have a few great options at our office or retired midwife Alison Osborn’s recommendation at Briarpatch is HemePlex
Leg Cramps: Magnesium Glycinate, 400-600 mg at night before bed
Liver support: If you have swelling, nausea, itchy skin, extreme hormonal mood swings, etc. Herblore Liver Tonic for Pregnancy- can dose up to 2 droppers-full 3x/ day or Livaplex by Standard Process 2 caps, 2x/day. Do gall bladder protocol.
Prenatal vitamin: Designs for Health prenatal vitamin (3-4 capsules/day). This has methylated B vitamins. Never take vitamins with folic acid. It is a cheap synthetic B9 source and can be harmful.
Rash of Pregnancy/Itchy skin: (Itchy skin or rash especially on the trunk of the body, please tell your doctor/care-provider if you are experiencing this). Itch Relief by Herblore, work up to 2 droppers full 3x a day. Do Liver and gallbladder support (see above) as this rash manifests with liver congestion/thickened bile.
Sinus Pressure/congestion: Craniosacral Therapy, Echinacea, Vitamin D, Omega 3s. Can also do Glutathione cream on the sinuses themselves- Oxicel SE by Apex Energetics 2x/day
Sleep: Magnesium Glycinate 300-600mg. Unisom. Adrena-calm cream. Eat a protein/fat/carb snack before bed. If wake up with mind racing, try Adrena-calm and a protein/fat snack.
Uterine Cramps/Braxton Hicks: Calcium Lactate powder (1 TBSP before bed with a splash or lemon/orange in it) is like “rocket fuel for the uterus.” Crampbark by Herblore.
Support for Birth/Directly after birth
Cervical preparation for birth: 2,000mg evening primrose oil orally in the mornings. 2,000mg capsules in the evening as a vaginal suppository. Poke a hole in capsule(s) and insert vaginally before bed. Start no earlier than 37 weeks.
Postpartum Sitz Bath by Herblore or Fat and The Moon has great versions. So good for healing!
Cramps of uterus shrinking back to size after birth: After Pain Tincture by Herblore and Calcium Lactate powder from Standard Process (1 TBS)
Homeopathic Remedies: Arnica Montana 1M (for muscle injuries, musculoskeletal trauma) and Aconitum Napellus 1M (for shock). 3 pellets of each 3x/day. Rotate them for the first three days after birth. I love giving the baby a dose of each also.
Herblore has remedies for labor support and more, check on their website
Support for Postpartum
Mastitis/Clogged Milk Ducts: pain in milk duct(s) in breast, redness can result in fever and flu like symptoms. Often occurs with increased stress/doing too much, so take Poke Root when you travel to introduce the baby to family. I recommend buying a poke root and keeping it in diaper bag for the first 6 months. Works amazing!
Poke Root by Herblore, works usually in 1 day. Directions on bottle.
Stay on PreNatal and fish oil support, consider adrenal support
Increasing breast milk supply: Nursing Tea or tincture by Herblore (the tincture is much stronger than the tea). If you are having consistent problems with milk supply, please come in and we will test your thyroid levels. Low thyroid is the most common cause of decreased milk production.
Adrenals: Cytozyme AD is safe for nursing but I like to transition to an herbal support like Ashwagandha Complex by MediHerb or ADB5 Plus by Biotics Research. Adrenal Health Packs by Standard Process are also great. Ideally though, please do some testing and see how your adrenals are doing. We can do that easily at our office.
PostPartum Depression: Postpartum Support International has a free hotline with counseling help. Keep on prenatals or female multivitamins. Adrenal support. Omega 3/Fish oils. Methylated B vitamins. Check your thyroid, talk to Dr. Heather about hormones. Also, consider bio-identical progesterone.
Support for Baby
My video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paMd-Z_3m1E
Start Tummy Time at Birth: Tummy time ½ hour a day in small bits. Laying baby on your chest counts. If your baby is immediately fussy in tummy time and doesn’t like it, this is an indication that the baby may have musculoskeletal or cranial restrictions and needs to be seen for chiropractic and/or craniosacral therapy.
Teething/Fever: Teething Tincture by Herblore and Calcium Lactate tablets (break them up for the baby to swallow) from Standard Process. 1 to 3 tablets, up to 2x/day
Colic: Read BabySense Secret by Meg Faure to make sure baby is not overstimulated. Craniosacral Therapy. Block Feeding (3 hours on one breast, then 3 hours feeding on the other. Ideally ask a lactation consultant about this). Infant massage. Have mom take probiotics and Omega 3s. Have mom take Zypan (2 tabs with each meal) to help her break down her own protein so undigested protein does not go into breast milk and cause irritation to baby’s gut. Consider removing nightshades and chocolate from diet. Watch my video on my website on Baby’s Sleep and Senses.
Reflux: Dietary changes for mom if baby is breastfeeding. Craniosacral. See Colic. Have mom take Zypan (2 tabs with each meal) to help her break down her own protein so undigested protein does not go into breast milk and cause irritation to baby’s gut). Consider removing nightshades and chocolate from diet. Dairy is also a trigger.
Gut Disturbances/Gas: Follow Reflux protocol. If you add probiotics, start with mom taking them. If not enough, I recommend Klaire Infant probiotics. There will be an aggravation for the first few days as there is a “die off” of bacteria in the gut, so push through and stay on them. Don’t go on and off.
Diaper Rash: Weleda Calendula Diaper Cream with zinc. If yeast rash (you will know if it is yeast because it is “fire engine red” and does not respond to regular diaper creams) then you go to the pharmacy and buy athlete’s foot cream with clotrimazole. Apply to rash 2x/day until it clears. We have an additional handout on RASHES
Dr. Heather recommends not vaccinating on the day of birth with Hepatitis B as this is a blood-born illness and transmitted like HIV. It can wait till your child’s immune system becomes more robust.
Recommendations throughout pregnancy and postpartum
Blood Sugar Support/General Nourishment Smoothie a day with SP Complete by Standard Process or Clearvite by Apex Energetics. These help stabilize blood sugar, are a mild liver detoxer, have great vitamins and more. Also, Collagen is a great way to get 11g of protein in your morning tea or coffee.
Increase Fiber Intake Whole Food Fiber or Gastro Fiber by Standard Process (to clear out extra hormones and toxins through the digestive tract, and to increase stool transit time). Eat more foods with fiber.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids/Fish Oils. Essential for the developing nerves/brain of the baby. For mom they are a good immune, brain and mood support, anti-inflammatory, great for skin and eye health and more. Fish oils do thin your blood so refrain from taking any from two weeks before your due date to birth. 2000mg a day. Can get in vegan form from Algae. In my mind Omega 3s are a forever supplement (take them lifelong) and absolutely essential for vitality and health in the long term.
Vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for the immune system, hormonal health, mood stability and more. Take 1000-4000 IU a day. I recommend getting your Vitamin D level tested before supplementation so we can best dose you. We can order a test to check Vitamin D levels easily.
Probiotics: Eat them (yogurt, keifer, sauerkraut, kombucha, etc) and/or take them in supplemental form. If you are eating them, a therapeutic dose is about 1-2 Cups of yogurt/kefir a day. If you have a yeast infection, you can use probiotics vaginally as a suppository for a few weeks and up to the birth (but obviously not after your water breaks!). Get the vaginal canal ready for baby inoculation! We have a few to choose from. Strengthia by Apex Energetics includes a yeast strain so is helpful for people suffering or who have suffered with yeast infections/overgrowth. Also, Vitanica makes a good vaginal probiotic.
Consider B Vitamins—for hormone support, nausea in pregnancy, energy levels, mood, etc. Many people cannot absorb regular B vitamins, so a methylated form is recommended. We have a handful of different choices at our office. My favorite is B Supreme by Designs for Health.
Electrolyte Water- Make your own. Get a glass quart jar and fill with clean (filtered) water. Put in ¼ tsp celtic sea salt, ½ fresh lemon or dash of organic just lemon juice. If desired, put 1-2tablespoons of maple syrup. YUM!
Reading List
The Baby Sense Secret by Meg Faure. A must read for all new parents! My all time favorite baby book. It explains a baby’s sensory development and how to take care of a baby knowing where they are developmentally. www.babysense.com
Dr. Aviva Romm MD website (she was a homebirth midwife and herbalist and went to Yale to become a doctor) https://avivaromm.com/
Anything by Ina May Gaskin and Dr. Sears
Great body care products made locally by Fat and the Moon
Fuel Sources for Optimal Vitality CheckList
Optimal vitality is my number one health goal. Vitality is only possible when our cells have sufficient fuel to function optimally and thus give us energy. Here is a checklist of what I think is necessary for robust energy levels and the blood tests necessary for evaluation.
Thyroid: Thyroid hormones are used to regulate the rate of metabolism in every single cell of your body. When thyroid levels are low, every cell “runs” slowly. This can manifest as fatigue, weight gain, inability to lose weight, hair loss, slow brain function/brain fog, constipation (fewer than one BM a day), depression, infertility and more. Blood Test: TSH, free T4, total T3, free T3, and the two thyroid antibodies (TPO antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies).
Adrenal Glands: Adrenal glands are the body’s stress response system and are extremely important for quality of energy levels. When these are worn down, one can experience extreme fatigue, overwhelm, and a sense of losing one’s spark. When on overdrive, wired adrenal glands lead to anxiety, dread, insomnia, heart palpitation and more. Blood Test: morning cortisol and DHEA-S.
Iron levels: Iron is mandatory for our cells to receive oxygen. Our cells need glucose (food) and oxygen (air) to function well. With low iron you will have cellular low oxygen. It is important to correct iron deficiency anemia in order for all other imbalances/disorders/diseases to correct. Blood Test: ferritin (iron storage), iron saturation, TIBC, serum iron.
Blood Sugar Levels: Blood sugar that is too high, too low, or unstable can lead to fatigue, anxiety, unpredictable mood/energy fluctuations and more. Test: fasting glucose and Hemoglobin A1C.
B vitamins: Important for mental clarity, energy levels, mood, nervous system health, liver detox pathways, arterial health and more. Test: homocysteine and B12.
Vitamin D: Important for hormone balance, mood stability, and seasonal affective disorders.
Sleep: Sleep is one of your most important fuel sources and absolutely indispensable for optimal health and vitality. Night is when the body rests, the organs and brain clear waste products and reset, and rejuvenation occurs. The best hours for sleep are 10pm to 6am for these important processes to occur. Please, never underestimate the importance of sleep. If you do not have good sleep hygiene, don’t bother with other steps. If you cannot sleep despite your best effort, there are many reasons and please bring in your questions.
Chart for Fuel Source Optimal Blood Levels
Blood work is easily accessible through the cash lab we order through with 90% off insurance prices.
Thyroid: TSH 1-1.5, Free T4 1.2-1.8, Total T3 120-180, Free T3 3.2-4.2, TPO Antibodies under 15, Thyroglobulin antibodies under 1. More info from Dr Aviva Romm MD and my Thyroid Blog
Adrenals: Morning Cortisol 12-18 ug/dL, DHEA 150-250 ug/dL
Iron: Ferritin 35-100 ng/dL, the others in normal range
Blood Sugar: Fasting Glucose 85-99, HbA1C 4.5-5.6
B Vitamins: B12 800-1200, Homocysteine 7 or below
Vitamin D: 50-70 ng/mL
Video on Low Back pain, Sacroiliac joint and Psoas muscle tightness and exercises to help
I am excited to share my video on Low back Pain focuses on sacroiliac joint instability and psoas muscle tightness. It is great for pregnancy and postpartum and anyone experiencing low back and pelvic pain, with or without sciatica. Included are exercises and my favorite supportive belt the Serola Belt. Please watch and share!
Summary of Dr. Datis Kharrazian DC PhD Immune Talk 3/27/2020
Summary of Dr. Datis Kharrazian DC PhD Immune Talk 3/27/2020
https://www.facebook.com/datiskharrazianpage/videos/2096457010499899/
By Dr. Heather Hunt DC
Dr. Datis Kharrazian is a Harvard Research fellow in immunity, has a PhD in Health Science and is most exciting for me, he is a chiropractor! His wife is also a chiropractor. He is one of my top two favorite teachers and resources for Functional Medicine and I have attended many of his seminars in the last eight years. His words are like music to my ears, but many people cannot understand him without background training in health/functional medicine/medicine. So I wanted to summarize this great talk and add in my own comments/suggestions.
I will italicize my own comments/additions-- Dr. Heather Hunt DC
One way to know if you have a compromised immune system is a low White Blood cell count. This can be seen on a Complete Blood count (and is available from our office for about $20 at our cash lab).
Immune System Health Suggestions
SLEEP! One of the most important immune cells, Natural Killer cells, are primed (activated) by melatonin, the sleep hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Interestingly, melatonin is also proven to be anti-cancer. I have always wondered if sleep itself is anti-cancer or if it is the actual melatonin. The natural killer cell priming makes me think it is about the actual magic of melatonin, which hormone specialist Dr. Uzzi Reiss MD calls the “hormone harmonizer.”
We all know about sleep and now is the time to prioritize it. Blue light of computer/phone screens (put on the blue light blockers!), news before bed, staying up too late with much needed alone time and more is stopping us from getting the deep rest we need to support our immune health. At least for now, please prioritize sleep for you and your children.
Most people can handle melatonin, and I think 1 to 3mg of melatonin or other sleep support (we have many free samples of my favorites at our office) is possibly a good idea right now. I use a liposomal oral melatonin as needed for when I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall right back to sleep as it absorbs so quickly.
IF YOU WAKE IN THE NIGHT and cannot fall back to sleep it is likely related to hypoglycemia. HYPOGLYCEMIA is a functional low blood sugar level where levels may be within normal limits via blood work but occurs when one has drops in blood sugar throughout the day (often related to low adrenal function). These periods of low levels throughout the day lead to an inadequate reserve to make it successfully through the night. When blood sugar drops in the night without sufficient reserves of the stored sugar glycogen in the liver, then epinephrine and norepinephrine (think adrenaline) are secreted to alert the liver for more need and one wakes with a rush of alertness and cannot easily fall back to sleep. (Dysregulated adrenal-- stress response system-- can also make the response to low blood sugar a huge adrenaline type surge instead of a little knock on the liver’s door that a little more blood sugar would be nice). Common hypoglycemia symptoms include: being shaky, lightheaded and irritable when you go too long without eating. Sugar cravings and then resulting blood sugar swings after consumption. Also, being energized after eating and able to function better.
Manage Blood Sugar: Article HERE
If women need to frequently urinate at night, think about strengthening your pelvic floor muscles (google exercises and we also have great local physical therapists here to help-- call our office for info). Frequent urination can also be related to elevated insulin levels and pre-diabetic conditions. A blood test will rule that in or out. In men it can be related to prostate enlargement.
Datis also recommended white noise machines to reduce ambient changes in sound in your sleep space and I LOVE earplugs!!! I get the Mack’s Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs and they are smaller and fit my ears great. I use one earplug only at a time and put my unplugged ear to my pillow so I can still hear my kids if needed, it just helps drown out all the little noises).
SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Datis argues that the concern around the “cytokine storm” with virus exposure is theoretical and the immune system is “an integrated symphony of movements all happening together” and at this point we cannot say that certain nutrients are creating a cytokine storm that is negative. He did not get into this discussion and in my research there are voices on either side. It seems you can trust your intuition on this one...
BUT!!! If one has AUTOIMMUNITY then nutrients that stimulate the immune system can create a flare up of the autoimmune condition and that will make someone feel/get worse. These include echinacea, elderberry, Larch arabinogalactans, mushroom extracts including beta-glucans.
Best nutrients for immune system:
Vitamin D- (2,000-5,000 iu, ideally blood test it to see your levels)
VItamin A- (vitamin A can build up toxicity, so use carefully, dose on bottle should be OK)
Vitamin C (dose 1,000mg a day and dose up throughout the day until you get loose stools then dose down. Some are recommending up to 5,000mg a day only when sick).
Anti-oxidants: break down free-radicals and address inflammatory processes in your tissues.You can take them as supplements and/or eat them in your diet. Food based sources of antioxidants: acai, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate, brightly colored foods. Also, eating garlic, onions, asparagus and other sulfur-rich vegetables help produce the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione.
Flavonoids: Citrus fruits, parsley, onions, berries, black tea, green and oolong tea, bananas, seabuckthorn (my new favorite, also an Omega 7 and great for skin), buckwheat and dark chocolate (70% or more cocoa content)
Botanicals that are likely helpful: Echinacea for those who do not have autoimmunity has been shown helpful for upper respiratory tract infections in studies.
COVID-19 breaks down lung epithelial systems creating a leaky lung (like leaky gut) so supporting barrier systems is helpful. Gotu Kola and Vitamin A are particularly good at being endothelial barrier supports.
INNATE OPIOID SYSTEM IN HUMANS-- Be Happy!
We all have an internal opioid system involved in pain modulation, reward, responses to stress and autonomic control (https://n.neurology.org/content/79/8/807). Think endorphins! Endorphins are your body’s natural system to give you feelings of happiness and pleasure and are released in response to exercise, smiling, having babies, intimacy, eating certain foods, and more.Datis says to track your opioid status throughout the day and aim to improve your opioid content. This can be done by positive emotional response, hugs, exercise, happy movies, laughing, etc. What inhibits natural opioids are FEAR and ANXIETY. Meaning, fear and anxiety will actually stop endorphin production.
The importance here beyond quality of life is that the health of your opioid system determines the health of your immune system. There is a whole branch of medicine and research called psychoneuroimmunology studying these connections (so exciting!!!)
EXERCISE: Use exercise to “improve immune fitness” (brilliant). Meaning, physical exercise will help exercise your immune system and make it stronger to prevent and deal with illness. This is done not only by the release of opioids and antioxidants that occur with exercise, but also because moving your body moves your lymph. Your lymphatic system is your garbage disposal system of your body and also is the fluid through which your immune cells communicate and are stored (think lymph nodes). The Lymphatic System does not have its own pump like the circulatory system (the heart) so it requires the contraction of muscles (as in moving your body!)
DIET: Stay away from trans fats, fried foods, packaged and processed foods, sugars, and foods you are sensitive to as they all promote internal inflammation that suppresses immune function.
Fiber: Eat a high fiber diet, both soluble and insoluble fiber. The fiber feeds Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) which turn on T regulatory cells in the gut and send messenger proteins (lipopolysaccharides) out to the rest of the immune system to increase efficiency and coordination of the immune response. Fiber also strengthens the immune system. Best way to do this is to eat a diverse array of vegetables daily. He recommends putting 15-20 vegetables in a vitamix type blender and blend it then eat a couple teaspoons a day.
If you have SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and cannot tolerate fiber, you can take butyrate (a dominant SCFA) directly. Apex Entergetics makes a great product called Enterovite.
Don’t eat the same thing every day.
Diets high in sugar shut down the immune system. “Concentrated” sugar (sugar without fiber to counteract the effects) depresses Natural Killer cells for a couple of hours. Fruit has the fiber, but don’t live off fruit thinking it is healthy and fruit juices are not recommended as a daily habit.
HYDRATION: Water has oxygen and hydrogen, which are necessary for healthy immune response. Drinking water also changes the concentration of electrolytes and sodium in the body and are necessary to change the viscosity in the blood vessels so the immune cells can communicate well.
STAY AWAY FROM MOST NEWS: This includes all news channels (TV, radio, internet) as the intention is to cause fear and they are all interpretations at this point. Get your news only from the CDC and World Health Organization.
PANIC, ANXIETY AND FEAR depress the immune system. Watch happy movies, snuggle with loved ones, do things that bring happiness and joy.
More info on Dr. K’s free Immune Resiliency program https://drknews.com/
Heather’s Additions:There is agreement between mainstream and functional medicine that Zinc is helpful for immune function. When fighting off illness or building immune system resilience 15-30mg a day is sufficient. I like Zinc Supreme by Designs for Health
Favorite antioxidant supplements:Glutathione- the body’s master antioxidant (in liposomal preparation, by Designs for Health or Apex Entergetics)
Resveratrol
Glutathione Recycler- Apex Entergetics, a product formulated by Datis to up your internal glutathione production.
Immune System modulator and “Forever” supplement: Omega 3s. In fish oil or algae derived form for vegetarians and vegans. 2,000mg a day.
Sleep Support:
Liposomal Melatonin- Quicksilver or other brandsInsomnitol- Designs for Health
Alpha-Theta Ultra PM- Biotics Research
Alpha Gaba PM- NeuroScience
Stress (Adrenal) Support:Withania Complex- MediHerb (contraindicated in high blood pressure as it has licorice)
B Supreme- Designs for Health
There are adrenal uppers and downers depending on your needs. Please talk to Dr. Heather for how to best support yourself.
Obviously all these ideas in this paper are best understood and implemented through the guidance of trained professionals. Dr. Heather is available for phone nutrition consults anytime. However, not all have the luxury of access to doctors who are open minded and educated in functional medicine and are also rather conservative in their approach (which I perceive to be a good thing). These times warrant more accessible information and it is my attempt to give evidence-based and time-tried information that people can then research and make their own decisions about in order to help themselves and their communities. We all need to work together to get through this and I have high hopes we will come out a more connected and enlightened global community.
Yours in Health and Vitality,
Heather
Immune Support for Children
Children’s Immune Support:
There are different ways of going about undertaking immune support. I like to err on the extremely conservative/safe side and aim to support the immune system in four main ways. We carry all these products at our office for your convenience.
1: Support the conductors of the symphony of your Immune System. Instead of stimulating the immune system, we aim to regulate and balance it. What I recommend is what are considered to be conductors of the immune system, directing all the different players involved how to work together in a coordinated and effective way. These are the fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin D and A especially, I use the Biotics Research Bio-Emulsion ADEK or the Vitamin D drops by Apex Entergetics) and Omega 3s Essential Fatty Acids. Omega 3s are called essential fatty acids because our body does not make them, we need to eat/ingest them. They are highest in oily fishes and historically have been taken through the form of Cod Liver Oil. Now we have many options of how to take them (besides eating fish, which many of us do not do often enough). There are even vegan forms of Omega 3s from algae. Omega 3s are something I ALWAYS recommend. There are so many health benefits and I consider them “forever supplements.”
2: Antioxidant Support. Support the immune system to clean up waste and free radicals with antioxidant support. The body makes its own antioxidants, and only when these internal stores become overwhelmed by the onslaught of invaders or toxins is there a problem. The body’s “master” antioxidant is Glutathione and we recommend that specifically in the short term. Apex Entergetics makes a lotion called Oxicell SE that is an easy way to get glutathione into babies and kids. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant. I am not a fan of ascorbic acid for Vitamin C, use another form (Pure Radiance as a food based one). You can also eat foods high in antioxidants. Think color! Blueberries, pomegranates and other brightly colored foods are high in antioxidants (google them!).
3: Amino Acid and Multi-vitamin/mineral Support. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins from which our immune cells are made. They are also essential for energy production, nutrient absorption, neurotransmitter health, tissue health and much more. This can be optional, though it is recommended again for the short term around immune insults and challenges or long term as a building block of proteins, hormones, neurotransmitters and more. It also helps support Phase 2 Liver detox. Apex Entergetics has great amino acid formulas that taste good and have detoxification support. Oxylent has great kids and adults multivitamins and also immune support formulas.
4. Probiotic support for gut health and overall wellness. There are so many probiotics to choose from and it is also good to rotate the type of probiotics used. Included here are Probiotic Synergy Powder by Designs for Health for general support and if there is any cold/sinus/flu/mouth sores issue use Children’s ENT Pro by Biotics Research. I do not usually recommend probiotics in my practice, I recommend eating probiotic foods such as whole milk yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, etc. But they are included here as people seem to think they are important. Definitely if there is a gut issue, antibiotics and around illnesses and vaccinations they are likely a good idea.
B Vitamins. It may also be important to support your child’s energy production/methylation/detoxification pathways with methylated B vitamins. It is very important not to give your children folic acid (synthetic B9) or cynocobalamin (synthetic B12). These are in many multivitamins as they are cheap. Please look for folate (B9) and either methylcobalamin, adenocobalamin or hydroxycolablamin for B12. Many of us cannot absorb the synthetic forms and it actually blocks our receptors to absorb the B vitamins we should receive from foods, etc. There are different B products that I like, and a few of them are liquid. Please inquire at our office for information. B vitamins can be very stimulating, so monitor your child and only give them B vitamins in the morning. An easy way to add the B vitamins is in the Oxylent multivitamin products.
Babies under 1 year of age:
General support that can be taken long term:
-Children’s DHA Xtra by Nordic Naturals in dropper- .50mL daily (half a milliliter) (about 550mg)
-Infant Probiotics by Klaire Labs- Ther-Biotic for Infants (dose on bottle)
If your child is sick, consider adding:
-Bio-ADEK-Mulsion (by Biotics Research)- 1 drop a day or an extra 1,000 IU of Vitamin D
-Oxicell SE Glutathione (by Apex Entergetics)- ½ to 1 pump of lotion on skin once a day
-Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder (by Pure Radiance)- ¼ to ½ teaspoon a day
- Oxylent Kids Multivitamin- 1 serving a day or Immune Support (adult product) 1/2 packet a day
Kids One to Two years of Age:
-Children’s DHA Xtra by Nordic Naturals in dropper- do full dose (about 900mg)
-Probiotic Synergy- ¼ teaspoon or Infant Probiotics (see above) or Children’s ENT Pro if there are respiratory symptoms or other probiotics of your choice
- Oxylent Kids- 1 packet a day or one packet a few times a week (this has B vitamins)
If your child is sick, consider adding:
-Bio-ADEK-Mulsion- 1 drop a day or an extra 1,000 IU of Vitamin D
-Oxicell SE Glutathione- 1 pump of lotion on skin once a day
-Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder- ½ to 1 teaspoon a day
-Oxylent Immune Support, 1 packet a day (split into two doses
Kids Three to Ten Years of Age
- Continue with DHA Xtra but up dose or switch to the capsules or ProOmega 2000 by Nordic Naturals (2 capsules) or DHA Junior Liquid or other Omega 3 containing about 600-1,000 mg oils
- Clearvite GL- ½- 1 scoop a day (optional). Can also use one of the other products if you want to add protein to the powder and achieve 10g of protein per serving. Clearvite CHC and CLA have collagen added and Clearvite PSF has pea protein. Same great amino acids, detox, multi-vitamin support with protein so it can be used as a meal replacement/supplement. Great for focus after school.
-Probiotic Synergy- ½ teaspoon or Children’s ENT Pro if there are any respiratory symptoms
-Oxylent adult formula, ½ packet a day or Kid’s Formula full dose
If your child is sick, consider adding:
-Oxylent Immune formula, 1 packet a day
-Bio-ADEK-Mulsion- 2 drops a day or an extra 2,000 IU of Vitamin D
-Oxicell SE Glutathione- 1 pump of lotion on skin once a day
-Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder- ½ to 1 teaspoon a day
-Oxylent Immune Support, 1 packet a day (split into two doses)
Children above 10 years of age
- 1,000 iu Vitamin D (use a product that has all fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K, like one drop of the ADEK) from September through April
-1,000 mg Omega 3s (ProOmega 2000 Junior) take forever
-1-2 scoops Clearvite GL or other Clearvite (optional)
-Probiotic Synergy- ½ teaspoon or Children’s ENT Pro if there are any respiratory symptoms
If your child is sick, consider adding:
-Oxylent Immune formula, 1 packet a day
-Bio-ADEK-Mulsion- 3 drops a day or an extra 3,000 IU of Vitamin D
-Oxicell SE Glutathione- 1 pump of lotion on skin twice a day
-Pure Radiance Vitamin C powder- 1 teaspoon a day
-Oxylent Immune Support, 1 packet a day (split into two doses)
Lifestyle Recommendations when Sick:
-Plenty of rest. No or few screens/movies. Listen to book tapes, read aloud and SLEEP!
-Do not suppress fevers unless over 103 or 104 degrees. Fever is the body’s natural defense to obliterate the germ invasion. Avoid Tylenol as much as possible (it lowers glutathione)
-Drink warm water with lemon and raw honey (no honey if under 1 year of age) through a straw (keeps acidic lemon off teeth)
-If warm and sunny lay kids in a sunbeam, but keep them warm or in a sunny window indoors
-Bone broths, chicken soups (Weston A Price website has recipes)
-Avoid: Neurotoxic additives – MSG, Aspartame, Genetically modified foods (GMO’s), Microwaved and irradiated foods, Sugar, refined flour and other processed foods
Omega-6 vegetable oils (Canola, corn, safflower, soy, etc.)
-I LOVE magnesium. It helps calm the nervous system, detoxifies, helps for stress and sleep. I recommend taking extra at night before bed if any muscle cramping, problems sleeping, increased stress or constipation. Magnesium Glycinate at 50-250mg/night. Epsom salt baths.
-Trust the process, a healthy immune system knows how to fight, and fighting off all these minor illnesses without medication/antibiotics can train our ninja warrior immune cells to fight well so as we age they will be better at fighting off real disease and more serious infections.
Follow this protocol two weeks before and two weeks after vaccinations, if your child is getting sick or is sick, for eczema, and more. If there is eczema, try applying the Oxicell SE directly to the affected area. If you use these recommendations for more long term wellness, discontinue the Oxicell SE and do the Vitamin ADEK only if you are not taking the kids Oxylent multivitamin. Your children do not need both. Omega 3s are my favorite long term support.